Women’s Water Polo Trio Awarded CWPA Weekly Honors

Monica Zdrojewski won the fifth CWPA weekly award of her career (photo courtesy Gil Talbot).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After opening the season at the Iona Invitational Feb. 4, a trio of Harvard women's water polo players took home Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division awards. Devan Kennifer was named the Player of the Week, while Monica Zdrojewski and Victoria Frager were chosen as the Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively.

Kennifer helped the Crimson to a 1-1 record with nine goals, two assists and seven steals. In the opener, Harvard was led by Kennifer's seven goals and six steals as the Crimson mounted a furious comeback with six fourth quarter tallies before falling to Iona, 15-14. Harvard bounced back with a 13-1 win over Villanova after jumping out to a 9-0 lead through one period. The senior co-captain scored twice against the Wildcats and added an assist and steal to total nine goals, two assists and seven steals on the day. It is the third time Kennifer has won the player of the week honors in her career and is her fifth CWPA award overall.

Zdrojewski, a native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., contributed to the Crimson's defensive effort with four steals against Iona and another in the match with Villanova. With the senior's lead, Harvard matched its lowest goals against total since a 9-1 win over Utica March 8, 2008. Zdrojewski had won four previous CWPA weekly awards in her career, but this marked her first defensive player of the week honor.

Frager started her collegiate career with two goals, an assist and five steals during the opening day. The newcomer was most impressive against Villanova, tallying a pair of goals to go along with a team-high four steals.

Harvard travels to Princeton, N.J., Feb. 11-12 for four games at the Princeton Invitational.